Today in the news: Obama announces executive actions on gun control

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Wayne Independent - Honesdale, PA

Writer

Posted Jan. 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 18, 2013 at 12:27 PM

Posted Jan. 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 18, 2013 at 12:27 PM

News to know

President Barack Obama has announced 23 executive actions on gun control, CNN reports. He also asked Congress to pass laws that would require background checks for all gun sales, restore a ban on military-style assault weapons, ban more than 10-round capacity gun magazines and toughen penalties for those who sell guns illegally. While Congress is divided on whether these laws will and should pass, the executive actions, which include appointing an ATF director and clarifying Medicaid's required mental health coverage, will take effect shortly.

The unveiling of the executive actions was attended by four children who wrote letters to the president after the Newtown, Conn., shooting, asking him to take steps to prevent gun violence. Families of some of the Newtown victims also attended.

The full list of executive actions is available at cnn.com.

Quote of note

"Most Americans agree that a president's children should not be used as pawns in a political fight. But to go so far as to make the safety of the president's children the subject of an attack ad is repugnant and cowardly." - White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, in response to an NRA ad caliing Obama "an elitist hypocrite" for allowing his daughters to have Secret Service protection while calling for stricter gun control.